Fill flash

Abstract: A digital camera simulates the use of fill flash. The camera takes a series of photographs of a scene at various focus distances. The photographs are stored, along with their corresponding focus distances. The photographs are analyzed to determine the distance to objects at various locations of the scene. Regions of a final photograph are selectively adjusted in brightness based on the distance information to simulate the effect that would have resulted had fill flash been used.

Abstract: Within a digital acquisition device with a built in flash unit, the exposure of an acquired digital image is perfected using face detection in the acquired image is provided. Groups of pixels that correspond to plural images of faces are identified within a digitally acquired image, and corresponding image attributes to the group of pixels are determined. An analysis is performed of the corresponding attributes of the groups of pixels. It is then determined to activate the built-in flash unit based on the analysis. An intensity of the built-in flash unit is determined based on the analysis. Alternatively based on similar analysis, a digital simulation of the fill flash is performed on the image.

Abstract: A method (100) of generating a digital image of a scene is disclosed. The method (100) is particularly advantageous in situations where a light source illuminating the scene is unknown. The method (100) allows post-capture control over flash illuminant and ambient illuminant used in generating the image. The method (100) may also be used to provide a synthetic fill flash effect. The method (100) is particularly advantageous in situations where an ambient light source illuminating the scene differs in spectral character from that of a flash illuminant used to capture an image of the scene.

Abstract: A photographic camera control system is provided for varying the time at which a source of artificial illumination is energized subsequent to the commencement of a photographic exposure interval in accordance with variations in the ambient scene light intensity and the camera-to-subject range. The control system operates to energize the source of artificial illumination at later times and hence larger aperture values under conditions of insignificant ambient scene light intensity than under conditions of substantially higher ambient scene light intensity for identical camera-to-subject distances. The control system additionally operates to control the energization of the source of artificial illumination during a photographic exposure interval occurring under conditions of substantially high ambient scene light intensity so that a select portion of the optimum film exposure value may be directly attributable to the ambient scene light while the remaining portion of the optimum exposure value is directly attributable to the artificial scene light provided by the source of artificial illumination.

Abstract: An artificial illumination control system is provided for a photographic camera for operation in a manner whereby under extremely low levels of ambient light intensity, the control system initiates the energization of a source of artificial illumination at a predetermined time period subsequent to the initiation of the exposure interval while under conditions of substantially higher levels of ambient light intensity, the control system initiates the energization of the source of artificial illumination as a consequence of the time integration of the scene light intensity incident to a photoresponsive element reaching a predetermined value. Hence, the artificial illumination control system may be automatically operated in both a normal flash mode and a "fill-in flash" mode.